Fake NBA Trade of the Day 5/18/16: Tony Parker to the Knicks

Every day, Pick and Popovich will post one fake trade and explain why it makes sense for every team involved to make it. There are no parameters beyond fitting within the salary cap. Sometimes the trades will involve stars, others role players. They are not grounded in actual rumors, they just make sense on paper. During the 2016 NBA Playoffs, each week will feature seven fake trades of one star player. This is Tony Parker Week.

San Antonio Spurs Receive: New York Knicks Receive:

Robin Lopez Tony Parker

Why San Antonio would make this trade: Assuming Tim Duncan retires, Robin Lopez could easily slide into his role on the 2016 team as the defensive anchor at center. He’s cost-controlled for four years, and the Spurs could still create cap space for a new point guard by dumping Boris Diaw.

Why New York would make this trade: Parker not only fills a major need at point guard, but he’s cheap enough to allow the Knicks to shop for some new wings in free agency, and by moving Lopez the Knicks can move Kristaps Porzingis to center and Carmelo Anthony to power forward, where they should be playing.